FIVE THINGS TO TAKE AWAY FROM ENGLAND'S DRAW WITH RUSSIA

Bob Westerdale

England's failure to win an opening match at the European Championship extended to an eighth edition of the tournament after Russia's late equaliser in Marseille.

Here, we discuss five key points of debate.

1. England won't do things the easy way

Much has been made of the bright, bold and fearless young side Roy Hodgson has brought to France, but some things in sport are constants.

England taking the bumpiest road possible at major tournaments appears to be one of them.

This was a game they largely dominated and one they were well-placed to win at the 90-minute mark. That they leave disgruntled and with a single point is a familiar frustration.

2. Wayne Rooney in midfield is worth pursuing

Questions can legitimately be raised about whether the team captain should have been tried in this new position prior to the first game of the competition, but Rooney was impressive.

He has played the role for some time at Manchester United and looked at home in the middle, passing intelligently and holding his runs.

With a little more work he could successfully reinvent himself as a fine pivot.

3. Eric Dier continues to surprise

It is hard to believe that Dier was making his first competitive appearance given how crucial he now is to England's game. The Tottenham man is the only specialist anchor man in the squad, is also considered as emergency cover at centre-half and now appears to be a dead ball ace.

His top-corner strike was not a lucky hit, but the product of many hours of practice.

4. The Wales dynamic will be even more complex

The local derby in Lens was always going to be a huge encounter but now it has amped up again.

With Wales winning their opening game and England held to a draw, the stakes are massive. Wales could happily deal on a share of the spoils but England can scarcely afford another setback.

Add in Gareth Bale's inflammatory words about pride and the tension can hardly fail to be enormous.

5. Hodgson's squad may be top heavy after all

The make-up of Hodgson's final 23-man was explained in exhaustive detail but having taken five strikers it seems unusual to see three of them - Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford and Daniel Sturridge - kicking their heels as the Russians rebuffed waves of attack.

Hodgson will be pondering just how he might have effectively utilised more of his forwards. If he comes up with no satisfactory answers he may reflect that one of them did not need to be there.

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